Condemning the Nation of Brunei's criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and imposition of cruel and disproportionate forms of punishment.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 289 Condemning the Nation of Brunei’s criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and imposition of cruel and disproportionate forms of punishment. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 3, 2019 Mr. POCAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judi- ciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Condemning the Nation of Brunei’s criminalization of les- bian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and im- position of cruel and disproportionate forms of punish- ment. Whereas, on April 3, 2019, a brutal new penal code went into effect in the country of Brunei; Whereas Brunei’s penal code imposes death by stoning for same-sex relations and adultery; Whereas stoning is a cruel and torturous form of punish- ment; and Whereas the U.S. Department of State has stated that ‘‘the United States strongly opposes violence, criminalization VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:41 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR289.IH HR289 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 289 IH and discrimination targeting vulnerable groups, including women at risk of violence, religious and ethnic minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons.’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) condemns the criminalization of and dis- 2 crimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgen- 3 der and intersex individuals; 4 (2) condemns Brunei’s decision to criminalize 5 sex between persons of the same sex; 6 (3) condemns Brunei’s decision to impose dis- 7 proportionate punishments for crimes; 8 (4) encourages the international community to 9 join the U.S. House of Representatives in con- 10 demning Brunei’s new penal code and upholding 11 international norms; 12 (5) directs the U.S. Department of State to up- 13 date all human rights reports submitted to Congress 14 and the President immediately to document the se- 15 verity of Brunei’s new penal code; and 16 (6) calls on Brunei to reverse its new penal 17 code as expeditiously as possible. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:41 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR289.IH HR289 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS